TGR Weekly Review - 4.25.21
Tensions rise in Jerusalem, Alexei Navalny comes off his hunger strike, and Chad's president is killed
Welcome to the first TGR Weekly Review by myself, Antonio Jimenez! A lot of news coming out of Russia this week so let’s not waste any time.
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Tensions rise in Jerusalem
“The provocative acts across Jerusalem must cease. The indiscriminate launching of rockets toward Israeli population centers violates international law and must stop immediately,” Tor Wennesland, UN envoy to the Middle East said on Saturday. “I reiterate my call upon all sides to exercise maximum restraint and avoid further escalation, particularly during the Holy month of Ramadan and this politically charged time for all.”
The tension began after Israeli police placed barricades around the Damascus Gate—a popular spot for Muslims to congregate in the evening during the month of Ramadan—in East Jerusalem to stop Palestinian youth from gathering and instigating violence against Jewish citizens. The threat is not unfounded as videos posted to TikTok showing Arab youth assaulting Orthodox Jews went viral last week.
The Muslims began rioting because of the barricades, and several far-right Jewish groups began rioting in response to the TikToks. Before long, the groups were clashing and Israeli police had to step in and fire water cannons and stun grenades to break up the fighting. It did nothing to quell the violence that has become a nightly occurrence in East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
Hamas, never one to miss an opportunity, has fired dozens of rockets and missiles into southern Israel since the beginning of the clashes. Is this the beginning of a Third Intifada?
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the violence on Saturday, saying, “We want, first of all, to ensure law and order. We are protecting freedom or worship as we do all year long, for all residents and visitors in Jerusalem. We now demand that people follow the law and I call for calm and both sides.”
In contrast, Hamas spokesman Abdel Latif Qanou said on Sunday, “What is happening in Jerusalem is an ongoing uprising by youths against the hostile policies of the occupation and the settlers. Hamas supports the youths in Jerusalem.”
(Dr. Mordechai Kedar will have more on the tensions in Jerusalem later in the week.)
Putin-critic Alexei Navalny ends his hunger strike
After twenty-four days of nothing but water, Putin’s fiercest critic ended his hunger strike on Friday.
“Thanks to the huge support of good people across the country and around the world, we have made huge progress,” Navalny said in a message from prison posted to his Instagram. “Two months ago, my requests for medical help were prompting smirks. I wasn’t given any medications...Thanks to you, now I have been examined by a panel of civilian doctors twice.” He also addressed the news that many of his supporters had taken up a vow to not eat in solidarity: “Tears flowed from my eyes when I read that. God, I’m not even acquainted with these people, and they do this for me. Friends, my heart is full of love and gratitude for you, but I don’t want anyone physically suffering because of me.”
Alexei Navalny began his hunger strike after the Russian prison system prohibited him from seeing his own doctor. Under Russian law, a prisoner is allowed to be checked out by his own doctor as long as the prisoner pays for the care. He still has yet to receive care from his own doctor, but was checked by doctors “not affiliated with the prison.” Something he said was “huge progress.”
The announcement came two days after protestors took to the streets across Russia demanding Navalny’s release.
Navalny was poisoned last year with Novichok in his underwear—allegedly a Russian assassination attempt—and spent several months recovering in Germany. Upon his return to Russia, he was arrested and sentenced to two and half years in jail for violating terms of a suspended sentence related to an embezzlement conviction in 2014.
In a Russia that has been dominated by Vladimir Putin for over two decades, Alexei Navalny has risen up to become the number one opposition figure in Russia. He has given the Russian people a glimmer of hope that there is something outside of Putin and that there is a chance Russia can be a true democracy.
Because of Putin’s iron-fisted rule over the Russian people, many pay no attention to politics and simply live their lives as best as they can. That is beginning to change. The people are starting to speak out. They are taking to the streets. Moscow sees this and they are scared. Why else would they try to kill Navalny?
Other stories from around the globe:
Russian troops—the largest buildup since the 2014 annexation of Crimea—leave the Ukrainian border. (AP)
Idriss Deby Itno, President of Chad, was killed on the frontlines fighting Libyan-based rebels just hours after winning his sixth term in office. (ABC News)
President Biden officially recognizes the killing of Armenians during World War I as “genocide.” Turkish President Erdogan calls the move “outrageous” and a “colossal mistake.” (CBS News)
Missing Indonesian submarine found in three pieces. All fifty-three crew members presumed to be dead. (Reuters)
Quote of the week:
"I hope that no one will think of crossing a red line with Russia. And we will decide ourselves where it will be." -Russian President Vladimir Putin during his annual state-of-the-nation address
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